Laugavegur & Fimmvorduhals Trek - 6 Day Tour (Huts)

TREK 25 - 6 day hiking tour that takes us to the most famous hiking trail in Iceland, the Laugavegur trail, known all over the world for its scenic beauty. Enjoy hiking from Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork and up to Fimmvorduhals Volcano eruption area from 2010. A bucket-list experience for all hiking enthusiasts!

Laugavegur Trail & Fimmvörðuháls

Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk and Fimmvörðuháls

The Laugavegur and Fimmvorduhals Trek, from Landmannalaugar to Thorsmork and Fimmvörðuháls, was chosen one of the "20 Best Hikes in the World" by National Geographic and for a good reason.

The Laugavegur Trail starts in Landmannalaugar, a geothermal wonderland, known worldwide for its multicolored rhyolite mountains and warm hot springs that locals have enjoyed soaking in throughout the centuries. Prepare yourself for breathtaking scenery as we make our way to the highlands. Throughout the 6-day hike where you will be greeted with fields of obsidian, colorful mountains, black sands, hot springs, geysers, sparkling white glaciers and glacier rivers, elf churches and so much more. While absorbing all of Iceland’s natural beauty our guides will tell you about these mysterious areas, the landscape, flora, fauna and folklore tales. You will be guided safely through this magical area, stopping at all the right places to make sure you get the absolute best experience of Laugavegurinn as the locals call the trail.

We spend our nights in rustic mountain huts at beautiful remote locations which we think adds to the charm of the hike. The locations include gorgeous places like Álftavatn, Hrafntinnusker and Thorsmork. Together, the group will prepare delicious meals to enjoy in a magical environment and atmosphere. A great time to reflect on the passing day. Sometimes we even take an evening stroll to areas off the beaten track to visit some of the enchanting secret places we have been finding in the past years.

At the end of the Laugavegur trail, we find ourselves in Thorsmork, a surprisingly green and fertile valley which is named after the Norse god of thunder Thor. Thor is believed to have struck down his hammer and formed the valley. Thorsmork is nestled at the foot of the glacier Eyjafjallajokull which became world known in 2010 when it erupted, stopping almost all air traffic to and from Europe. From Thorsmork, we will hike up the valley, between Eyjafjallajokull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers, through a pass known as Fimmvörðuháls. This is where we find the two new craters that were formed in the eruption, Magni and Modi, named after the sons of Thor. These newly formed craters are some of the spectacular things you will see and experience on this 6-day trekking tour.

The tour starts by the Reykjavík tourist info at Reykjavik's City Hall (Ráðhúsið) by Tjörnin pond at 7.00 a.m. where you meet your guide. It's located in downtown Reykjavik and within walking distance from most hotels, hostels and guesthouses in central Reykjavik. We also offer pick up at selected locations around Reykjavik (see other pick up locations in tour description). After introductions, we board the scheduled bus that takes us to Landmannalaugar. The drive takes about 3-4 hours, on the way we travel along the south coast and then turn inland and pass Iceland's most active volcano, Hekla.

Our hike starts in Landmannalaugar as we walk through this geothermal wonderland and look at the colorful mountains and steaming hot springs. The trail takes us through the rough lava field, Laugahraun. From there we move to the slopes of Brennisteinsalda, which is known worldwide for its incredible spectrums of colors and photogenic looks. We walk by the beautiful hot spring Storihver before crossing into the obsidian desert by Hrafntinnusker. Storihver is one of the very few green grounds we will encounter on this day. We spend the night in the hut in Hrafntinnusker, one of the most remote huts in Iceland, surrounded by Hrafntinna or Obsidian.

After a communal breakfast in the hut, we head out again and walk along the Reykjafjoll mountains and then descend into the Jokultungur area. The geothermal activity has turned these gullies yellow and red. We will leave the colorful rhyolite mountains and enter into an area with dark palagonite mountains and a breathtaking glacier view. If the visibility is good we hike up to Mt. Haskerdingur were the view greets you with countless glaciers, mountains and volcanoes. During the next steps, the landscape will be a lot greener and you might notice a considerable increase in vegetation. From the top of Jokultungur, there is a great view over the Fjallabak area and lake Alftavatn which is our next overnight stop. The trail down Jokulstungur is rather steep but once you are down you have landed in a fertile paradise on the banks of the river Grashagakvisl. Before reaching Alftavatn we cross an unbridged stream on foot. We spend the night in the hut by the lake.

We start the day with another refreshing stream crossing as we make our way past the green volcano Stórasúla and into the black desert of Maelifellssandur. On our way, we will see Hattafell, a volcano with a strange flat top. We walk through this black glacial desert and into Emstrur where there is a chance to enjoy a view of Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull glaciers. Emstrur is a lush region where farmers used to graze their sheep during the summertime. Just before reaching the huts in Botnar we turn of the path to look at Markarfljotsgljufur, approximately 200 m deep canyon carved out by the glacial river Markarfljot. The hut in Botnar is in a little green oasis, a welcomed sight after walking through the black sands.

We put Emstrur behind us and continue on our way to Thorsmork. The trail takes us within a few kilometers from the great Myrdalsjokull glacier. As we descend towards Almenningar a few trees can be seen, a sign we are getting closer to the coast. We walk under the characteristic mountain Einhyrningur (“The Unicorn”) and into the dense birch forest in Thorsmork. Thorsmork is a green valley nesting under the glaciers Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull, a magnificent place to spend the night.

Today we leave Thorsmork early in the morning and head for the mountain pass between the two glaciers, Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull. We will walk up to the two new craters formed in 2010, Magni and Modi, named after the sons of Thor. On the way, we pass by a formation of lava in a waterfall shape made in the eruption. Here you have a chance to see how Iceland is still being built, formed and shaped by its nature. We will be greeted with a fantastic view over the valley. We spend the night in Thorsmork and have a GOOD BYE party while enjoying a traditional Icelandic grilled Lamb for dinner.

In the morning we have a leisurely breakfast in the hut before going out to explore the amazing surroundings. The volcanos Katla and Eyjafjallajokull surround the Thorsmork valley, for thousands of years these volcanoes and the glaciers that cover them, have carved the sandstone in Thorsmork into surreal sculptures dotted with moss and arctic birch trees. We hike up the mountain Valahnukur for a fantastic view over the valley. Those who wish can also simply spend the day relaxing and enjoying nature in this beautiful place. We return to Reykjavik in the early evening at around 18:30 and offer drop off at Miklabraut 101 Orkan gas station (by Kringlan shopping mall), Reykjavik Campsite and the City Hall on Vonarstræti. From there taxis and local buses are available.

(B, L). Distance: 6 km (3,5 mi). Walking time: 3 hrs.

The entries at the end of each day indicate the meals included (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, r=refreshment, D= Dinner)

We also offer drop off at Hveragerði N1 gas station, Selfoss N1 gas station and Hella bus terminal on the way back to Reykjavik. Please inform the guide on the tour if you wish to get off at one of these places.

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Welcome to Trek Iceland

Trek Iceland is a fully licensed tour operator based in Reykjavik, Iceland. We specialize in trekking and hiking tours in the remote highlands as well as various places around Iceland. We have a great selection of tours at all levels of ability and duration including short and long hiking day tours, multi day trekking tours, Laugavegur tours and Landmannalaugar tours.

Our team of experienced guides ensure you enjoy your journey to the fullest and keep you safe while exploring the incredible hiking and trekking trails in Iceland.

TREK Iceland is a part of the Arctic Adventures family. Together we can provide you with great variety when it comes to adventures and exploration in Iceland. Our tours range from glaciers to snorkeling and almost anything in between. Feel free to contact us if there is any information you are lacking, we are always more than happy to help!